Michelin Pilot Sport 5 vs Pirelli P Zero PZ4
- TR Score
- 9.4/10
- Owners say
- 85% · 135
- TR Score
- 9.1/10
- Owners say
- 75% · 98
In the 7 independent tests that ran both tires, the Pilot Sport 5 finished ahead 4 times and the P Zero PZ4 twice, with one level. The Pilot Sport 5 lasted 64.5% longer in the wear tests; the P Zero PZ4 was 1.2 dB quieter.
Data updated
Which should you buy?
Choose Michelin Pilot Sport 5 for daily performance driving, heavy rain confidence, and lowest total cost of ownership. Choose Pirelli P Zero PZ4 if you prioritize steering precision, a quieter ride, and sporty responsiveness, accepting shorter lifespan and variable wet margins.
Where the Pilot Sport 5 is stronger
- Excellent wet safety: consistently shorter wet braking and stronger aquaplaning resistance
- Outstanding longevity and lower cost-per-km
- Balanced, predictable handling with precise steering and stability
Where the P Zero PZ4 is stronger
- Sharp, engaging dry and wet handling with neutral balance
- Lower external noise levels
- Often lower purchase price
Conclusion
The data shows a clear pattern: Michelin Pilot Sport 5 is the safer, longer-lasting all-rounder with class-leading wet braking (often 10-15% shorter) and aquaplaning reserves, plus dramatically better mileage (typically 35-85% higher) and lower cost per 1,000 km. Even when not the most exhilarating, it scores more test wins and top-three finishes by stacking small advantages across many criteria.
The Pirelli P Zero PZ4 remains a compelling driver's tire-alert steering, frequent wins in wet/dry handling laps, quieter pass-by noise, and a lower purchase price in many cases. However, its shorter lifespan and occasionally weaker wet margins and aquaplaning limit its overall value proposition. If you prioritize confidence in the wet and total ownership cost, choose Michelin. If you want taut responses and a quieter, more playful feel-and accept higher wear-Pirelli delivers. Practical takeaway: PS5 for everyday fast road use and long mileage, PZ4 for weekend drives where steering feel matters most.
The bullet points are analysis of the shared tests and of owner reviews; the measured wins in each discipline are in the tables below. Where the two disagree, the figures are right.
Pilot Sport 5 vs P Zero PZ4 at a glance
| Category | Pilot Sport 5 | Gap | P Zero PZ4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared tests won7 shared tests | 4 | 1 level | 2 |
| Dry12 measurements | 5 | The P Zero PZ4 averaged a 0.7% higher speed on the dry handling course (3 tests) | 6 |
| Wet24 measurements | 13 | The Pilot Sport 5 stopped 3.8% shorter in the wet (7 tests) | 11 |
| Comfort7 measurements | 1 | The P Zero PZ4 was 1.2 dB quieter (5 tests) | 5 |
| Value9 measurements | 7 | The Pilot Sport 5 lasted 64.5% longer in the wear tests (3 tests) | 2 |
| Tire Reviews Scoreevery test and review we hold | 9.4/10 | The Pilot Sport 5 by 0.3 | 9.1/10 |
| Owner rating135 and 98 reviews | 85% | The Pilot Sport 5 by 10 points | 75% |
| Would buy againshare of owners | 83% | The Pilot Sport 5 by 28 points | 55% |
| Pricein the 5 tests that listed prices | +8.8% | The Pilot Sport 5 was dearer in 5 of 5 | Cheaper |
Wins count every measurement the shared tests recorded for both tires; a tick marks the tire ahead on that line. Subjective driver scores count as wins but are never averaged, because each test uses its own scale.
Head to head in 7 tests, 2023 to 2025
Each row is one published test in which both tires ran on the same car, in the same size, on the same day. The line is the whole field, winner on the left.
| Test | Pilot Sport 5 | Field | P Zero PZ4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Auto Bild Summer Performance Tire Test | P1 of 20 | P14 of 20 | |
| 2025 AZ Summer Tire Test | P4 of 10 | P5 of 10 | |
| 2025 Summer Tire Test Shootout | P2 of 52 | P20 of 52 | |
| 2023 AutoBild UHP Summer Tire Test | P2 of 20 | P11 of 20 | |
| 2023 AZ UHP Summer Tire Test | P5 of 10 | P3 of 10 | |
| 2023 AutoBild Sports Car Summer Tire Test | P3 of 13 | P3 of 13 | |
| 2023 Summer Tire Market Overview | P6 of 50 | P3 of 50 |
Performance profile
13 measurements from the 7 shared tests, each tire shown as its share of the better figure in every test.
Where each is furthest ahead
Pilot Sport 5
P Zero PZ4
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
In each test the better of the two figures counts as 100% and the other as its share of it, so a 118 ft stop against 112 ft is 95%; each spoke averages the shared tests that recorded it. The scale stops at 94%: a point further in sits on the hub's edge, hollow. 1 measurement recorded in only one shared test is left off; every measurement is in the table further down.
Where each scores higher
Pilot Sport 5
P Zero PZ4
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Category scores are percentiles among tires of the same season and class: 90 means this tire out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
Where owners rate each higher
Pilot Sport 5
P Zero PZ4
Point at or tap any spoke for both tires' figures.
Owners rate the Pilot Sport 5 85% from 135 reviews and the P Zero PZ4 75% from 98. Each spoke is one question owners answer out of 10; reviews are vetted by hand before publication.
Every measurement, side by side
Averages of the figures both tires posted in the same tests. The gap is the average of each test's own gap, so figures from different cars and years are never mixed. Open a discipline for its measurements, and a measurement for every test's figure.
| Measurement | Pilot Sport 5 | Gap | P Zero PZ4 | Wins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 111 | 1% | 112 | 4-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 84.85 | 0.1% | 84.8 | 0-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 73.4 | 0.7% | 73.9 | 1-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 122 | 3.8% | 128 | 4-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 69.35 | 1.3% | 68.45 | 0-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 48.4 | 0.6% | 48.7 | 1-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 12.67 | 0.3% | 12.64 | 1-3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 51.8 | 0.7% | 51.5 | 4-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 11 | 5.7% | 10.4 | 3-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| scored | 8.3% | scored | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 71.88 | 1.2 dB | 70.72 | 0-5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 31,642 | 64.5% | 19,349 | 3-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 8.57 | 4.6% | 9.02 | 3-2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 0.09 | 42.2% | 0.15 | 1-0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Braking distances and lap times are better when lower; speeds, wear and grip figures when higher. A test's figures are its own: sizes, cars, surfaces and temperatures differ from one to the next, which is why the averages here are only ever of tests the two tires shared. "Scored" rows are subjective driver ratings: each test uses its own scale, so only the wins are counted.
Scores beyond the shared tests
On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Pilot Sport 5 scores 9.4 and the P Zero PZ4 9.1 out of 10.
| Pilot Sport 5 | Category | P Zero PZ4 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 93 | Dry | 93 | ||
| 96 | Wet | 91 | ||
| 22 | Comfort | 49 | ||
| 59 | Value | 7 | ||
Category scores are percentiles among tires of the same season and class: 90 means this tire out-performs 90% of them, measured across every test we hold, not only the ones it appeared in.
What owners say
| Pilot Sport 5 | Category | P Zero PZ4 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Dry Grip | 8.8 | ||
| 9 | Wet Grip | 7.6 | ||
| 8.1 | Road Feedback | 8.2 | ||
| 8.3 | Handling | 8.2 | ||
| 8 | Wear | 6 | ||
| 8.2 | Comfort | 6.9 | ||
Owners rate the Pilot Sport 5 85% from 135 reviews and the P Zero PZ4 75% from 98. Reviews are vetted by hand before publication; ownership is not verified.
Michelin Pilot Sport 5
- 85%from 135 reviews
- 83%would buy again
- 1,150,326 milesdriven by reviewers
Owners rate the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 very highly overall, with most highlighting standout grip in both the dry and wet and plenty of confidence for fast road driving. Comfort and refinement are also frequently praised for a UHP tire, with many finding it quiet and easy-going day to day. Wear is more divisive: many report strong mileage, but around one in ten complain of quicker wear than expected (and a smaller group mention uneven wear). Around one in eight owners also wish for sharper, more precise steering feel compared with sportier rivals.
- Outstanding wet grip and confidence in the rain
- Very strong dry grip with big reserves
- Comfortable, compliant ride for a performance tire
- Refined, relatively quiet motorway manners (especially when new)
- Steering feel can be a bit vague or slower to respond than rivals
- Can wear quicker than expected for some drivers
- Not happy when pushed hard on track; can overheat and lose grip
Summarised by AI from 121 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tire page.
All 135 Pilot Sport 5 reviewsI have driven on PS5 for the first season in my 150HP car (Cupra Leon ST).
The grip both in dry and in the wet is excellent - I tried to push them to the limit many times and have never been able to lose the grip so far.
Although I have to mention that they feel very soft close at the limit - even though the grip always delivers in the end, the tire often „floats” when turning that you may start wondering if the tire will make it out of the corner.
Due to their softness, I find them comfortable as for the summer tire on small bumps.
Summing up - the grip is excellent, very safe and stable, breaking is sharp and… the tire itself looks amazing.
Something worth mentioning is that the rim protector doesn’t exist in this tire - if that’s something you care about, the PS5 is not for you.
Although I can’t find any cons in terms of safety in PS5, as a tire geek, I think about replacing them for the next season for something with more sharp/sporty steering (I would appreciate any recommendations).
Pirelli P Zero PZ4
- 75%from 98 reviews
- 55%would buy again
- 1,052,792 milesdriven by reviewers
Owners tend to rate the Pirelli P Zero PZ4 as a strong dry-road performance tire, with clear majorities praising dry grip and crisp steering response. Comfort and road noise are also more often seen as positives than negatives, making it a surprisingly civilised option for a UUHP fitment. The main sticking point is durability: around two in five owners mention tread life and most of them report fast wear, while a smaller but notable group (around one in eight) highlight aquaplaning concerns, especially as the tread gets lower or in standing water.
- Strong dry grip
- Sharp steering response and good feedback
- Confident, sporty dry handling
- Low road noise for the category
- Fast wear / short tread life
- Aquaplaning in standing water, especially at speed
- Poor cold-weather grip and needs heat to work properly
Summarised by AI from 85 vetted reviews; the reviews themselves are on the tire page.
All 98 P Zero PZ4 reviewsGood grip all arround, especially in the dry where they really shine. Used them as front tires on high power rwd car. They maintain good grip under heavy braking, and are very progressive at the limit. The only downside i found is that the got oval shaped and the car started vibrating at high speeds, wich cannot be resolved by balancing since they were not perfectly round.aybe the car being rarely used, it sits in the garage over winter, and only moved around a bit every few weeks, but maybe that was not enough, even though the rear ones, a different brand did not suffer the same problems.
Sizes, EU label and lineage
| Category | Pilot Sport 5 | P Zero PZ4 |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Summer | Summer |
| On the market since | 2022 | - |
| Replaced | Michelin Pilot Sport 4 (2015) | Pirelli P Zero |
| Replaced by | - | Pirelli P Zero PZ5 |
| Awards | Winner: Best Tires for Hot Hatches (Compact Sports Cars) (DriverReviews, 2026/27) Winner: Best Tires for Hot Hatches (DriverReviews, 2024/25) | Recommended: Best Tires for High Performance Cars (DriverReviews, 2026/27) Highly Recommended: Best Tires for High Performance Cars (DriverReviews, 2024/25) Winner: Performance Tire of the Year (WhatTire, 2024) Winner: Performance Tire of the Year (WhatTire, 2022) |
| Price in the shared tests | The Pilot Sport 5 was the dearer tire in 5 of the 5 tests that listed prices, by 8.8% on average. Each test priced the tires in its own market at the time; only the gap is comparable. | |
Reading the results
Written from the test results and owner reviews above. It is analysis, not a measurement: where it and the tables disagree, the tables are right.
This head-to-head pits two max-performance summer staples-the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 and Pirelli P Zero PZ4-across seven shared tests ranging from Auto Bild and Auto Zeitung to broad shootouts. Both target fast road driving on passenger cars, but they take different routes to speed: Michelin leans on all-round balance, wet security, and standout longevity, while Pirelli majors on sharp, engaging dynamics with lower noise and a keener ticket price in many sizes.
Across the tests, Michelin consistently converts small dry gaps and notably stronger wet safety margins into higher overall rankings and superior cost-per-km. Pirelli counters with crisper turn-in, frequent wins in dynamic handling metrics, and lower cabin noise, but it's hampered by higher wear and weaker aquaplaning resistance in several sizes-especially when an OE-specific PZ4 was included.
Pilot Sport 5 vs P Zero PZ4: your questions
Is the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 or the Pirelli P Zero PZ4 the better tire?
In the 7 independent tests that ran both tires, the Michelin Pilot Sport 5 finished ahead 4 times and the P Zero PZ4 twice, with one level. On the Tire Reviews Score, which weighs every test and review we hold, the Pilot Sport 5 scores 9.4 and the P Zero PZ4 9.1 out of 10.
Which is better in the wet, the Pilot Sport 5 or the P Zero PZ4?
The Pilot Sport 5 led 13 of the 24 wet measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it stopped 3.8% shorter in the wet across 7 tests.
Which is better in the dry?
The P Zero PZ4 led 6 of the 12 dry measurements the shared tests recorded. On average it averaged a 0.7% higher speed on the dry handling course across 3 tests.
Which lasts longer and costs less to run?
The Pilot Sport 5 lasted 64.5% longer in the wear tests (3 tests) and had 4.6% lower rolling resistance (5 tests). Owners rate wear 8/10 for the Pilot Sport 5 and 6/10 for the P Zero PZ4.
Which is quieter and more comfortable?
The P Zero PZ4 was 1.2 dB quieter (5 tests). Owners rate comfort 8.2/10 for the Pilot Sport 5 and 6.9/10 for the P Zero PZ4.
What do owners say?
Owners rate the Pilot Sport 5 85% from 135 reviews and the P Zero PZ4 75% from 98. 83% of Pilot Sport 5 owners would buy it again, against 55% for the P Zero PZ4.
Which is more expensive?
In the 5 tests that listed prices, the Pilot Sport 5 was the dearer tire in 5 of them, by 8.8% on average. Prices are the test's own at the time, in its own market.
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Your review is the part of this page no test can supply: how the tire wore, how it aged, what it was like in the rain in year three. It takes about five minutes.
Where this data comes from
Finishing positions and measurements are transcribed from each published test. A test only counts here when both tires ran in it, so every figure was recorded on the same car, size and day as the one it is compared to.
About the TR Score
The Tire Reviews Score rates each tire out of 10 from every independent test result and vetted owner review we hold, so two tires can be compared even before a test has run them together.
Who does the testing
Every test published as a Tire Reviews test is run by Jonathan Benson, who has been testing tires independently since 2007.
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